Abstract

RUIZ RIVERA, Naxhelli. Defining and measuring social vulnerability. Towards a normative approach. Invest. Geog [online]. 2012, n.77, pp.63-74. ISSN 2448-7279.

This paper discusses the relevance of normative approaches to define and measure the social dimension of vulnerability, from an initial critique to the notion of resilience. From a critical realist perspective, the paper assesses the applicability of the notion of resilience in vulnerability studies, and proposes a conceptual and methodological alternative based on normative, objective well-being approaches. The paper also discusses in depth the main methodological issues that are necessary to clarify for making this proposal operative. The core elements of the methodology are well-being thresholds and weights, which are taken as the reference point to measure the potentially negative effects on well-being in a situation of vulnerability to different hazards.

Keywords : Social vulnerability; adaptation; resilience; normative theory; well-being.

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